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Gym Germs: Mats Are A Hot Spot For Bacteria | Surface Shield. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. One way to do that is to hit the gym to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle, relieve stress, improve self-confidence, and alleviate anxiety. But you can pick up some other things at the gym too. A recent University of California-Irvine study found that staphylococcus bacteria (staph infection) could survive on hard surfaces – like gym equipment and benches – even after being sanitized.

Staph bacteria is easily spread through cuts and abrasions and may cause disease due to direct infection or the production of toxins by the bacteria. Some examples of a staph infection? Are Gym Germs Present at your Workout Facility? The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine reported that 63 percent of gym machines harbored traces of rhinovirus, the virus responsible for the common cold. How about gym mats? How can you protect yourself? [Infographic] 8 Tips to Keep Kids Healthy at School | Surface Shield.

During cold and flu season it seems nearly impossible to keep your family healthy, especially in homes with elementary school children. Every parent knows that rest, exercise and good eating habits can help strengthen their child’s immune system, but sometimes that isn’t quite enough. We wanted to share a few tips to help you keep your home germ-free and your kids healthy at school this Spring. Learn more about Surface Shield by contacting us here. Download our case study on how one Michigan school used Surface Shield as a preventive measure against MRSA here. Tags: anti-microbials, antimicrobial, child, cleaning, germ, germs, kids, michigan, michigan schools, school, sickness, skin infections, teacher, teachers.

Janitorial Services that Yield Germ Free Learning Environments | Surface Shield. In school districts, janitorial services bidding often comes down to getting the best service for the lowest price. What if a cleaning company could offer more than swept hallways and empty trash cans? Hi-Tec Building Services offers Surface Shield, an optional and affordable service that goes beyond cleaning. Surface Shield is a groundbreaking technology that binds to any surface and keeps it free of germs, mold, viruses’ and infectious diseases. Protect Touchpoint Surfaces Surface Shield provides an extra layer of protection on some of the germiest surfaces you will find in schools. This extra layer of protection can help inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and contagious viruses. High-touchpoint surfaces, such as, keyboards, door handles, phones and water fountains all put teachers and students at risk of getting sick.

Protect Athletes Give Parents “Peace of Mind” I’m sure we can all agree that ‘MRSA’ and ‘schools’ are two words that we never want to hear in the same sentence. 5 Viral Skin Infections That Live on Athletic Mats | Surface Shield. Many of us know how prevalent germs and infectious skin disorders are in the world of athletics, but what we may not know is just how big of a threat that viral skin infections can be on the surfaces of our athletic mats and equipment. Here are some of the most common viruses that may be living on the surface of your athletic mat: 1. Tinea Corporis (Ring Worm): According to the Georgia High School Association, Ring Worm is the most common viral skin infections found in wrestling. It is easily spread through skin-to-skin contact, but this fungal infection can also live on wrestling mats, locker room floors and other surfaces. 2. Impetigo: Impetigo is another highly contagious skin infection that is commonly found in wrestlers. 3. 4. 5. These 5 threats can be dangerous to an athlete’s health and have a negative effect on their athletic performance.

State of the Union in Michigan Daycare Centers | Surface Shield. Again, you know what the State of the Union is. You learned about it here. Our focus here is the state of Michigan and, in particular, the state of illness in Michigan daycare centers. Here’s what we know: The percentage of women in the workforce has grown. 1974 – 47% of women were engaged in the workforce2007 – 71% of women were engaged in the workforce And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 28% of mothers with young children worked in 1975, more than doubling to 60% by 2013.

The group Child Care Aware notes that about 11 million children under age 5 spend an average of 35 hours a week in approximately 118,143 licensed childcare centers and 133,550 home daycare providers in the United States. Unfortunately, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “20,000 children younger than 5 years are hospitalized because of flu-related complications. The most common sickness acquired in daycares are: DiarrheaGastroenteritisHepatitis ALiceFlu / Cold And is there a solution?

Antimicrobial

Superbugs, HAIs, and Surface Shield | Surface Shield. 24 Michigan hospitals were penalized last week as a penalty for patient infection and injury rates. You can read about it here. All hospitals receive a Hospital-Acquired Condition score between 1 and 10. Those that receive a score greater than 6.75 are penalized and subject to Medicare reductions. There is much angst concerning hospital “superbugs” in our communities, our state, and our nation.

Dangerous germs spread easily by touching counters, floors, tray tables, bed rails, IV pulls, and call buttons, and many experts believe that only 50 percent of surfaces are disinfected when a patient’s room is cleaned. The most common hospital superbugs? MRSA and C. diff infections. MRSA claims the lives of more than 8,000 patients per year, according to CBS News, and sickens another 60,000. What are we currently doing to clean our hospitals? A recent study by Cardiff University claimed that the use of wet wipes spread hospital superbugs. More needs to be done. More on that soon. Doctors, Germs, and Illness in Michigan Hospitals | Surface Shield. Doctor noun | doc·tor | \ˈdäk-tər\ a person who is skilled in the science of medicine : a person who is trained and licensed to treat sick and injured people But doctors are really so much more, aren’t they?

A doctor maintains or restores human health. He or she diagnoses and/or treats human disease or ailments or injury or pain. He or she is a confidant, a trusted counselor. It reads: I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. But what happens when diagnosing or healing is interrupted by healthcare-associated illness? Certainly this is frustrating. HAIs lead to extended hospital stays and contribute to increased medical costs. HAIs also increase morbidity and mortality, which doctors, whose priority is a patient’s health and well being, find particularly devastating.

How can this number be decreased? Ask Surface Shield. Teachers, Germs, and Illness in Michigan Schools | Surface Shield. Teacher noun | teach·er | \ˈtē-chər\ a person or thing that teaches something; especially : a person whose job is to teach students about certain subjects But for most, a teacher is more than “a person who teaches.” A teacher is encouraging and compelling, inspiring and intelligent, compelling and compassionate, challenging and motivating. A teacher is a nation builder. The knowledge and skills instilled in children determine the fate of our future, the fate of our world. But teaching is hard, especially when affected by illness and absenteeism. The facts are here. And the effects? Attendance Works, a national and state initiative that promotes better policy and practice around school attendance, released a 2014 report highlighting why students who miss three or more days from school are missing the mark.

From the report: Students reporting missing three or more days of school in the prior month had lower average NAEP scores in reading and math than students with fewer absences. StumbleUpon. Microbes, Superbugs, Germs at Schools, and Surface Shield | Surface Shield. Let’s start with microbes. What is a microbe? A microorganism – or microbe – is a single-cell organism that is entirely too small to be seen by the unaided human eye. They are the oldest form of life on earth, dating back more than 3.5 million years, and they are absolutely everywhere.

They are in the air, on the ground, within our food… In fact, it is quite likely there are more microbes on your hand than there are people on the earth. There are good microbes – microbes that cause plants to grow and food to digest – and there are bad microbes – microbes that cause both illness and disease. Here are a few common illnesses caused by microbes: ColdChickenpoxRingwormAthlete’s foot FluPneumonia MRSAImpetigoStrep throat Meningitis As stated here, these illnesses are some of the most common in Michigan-area schools. What is a superbug? How do superbugs form? According to a recent article in Scientific American: Surface Shield is different than most common antibacterial cleaners. Germs at School: A State of the Union Concerning Illness In Michigan Schools | Surface Shield. The State of the Union is an annual address – presented by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress – that reports the condition of the nation, while also outlining a legislative agenda or providing recommendations that are both necessary and expedient.

The State of the Union – below – is an address too. But our focus is the state of Michigan and, in particular, the state of illness in Michigan schools. Here’s what we know: There are 1,507,225 students enrolled in the 900+ public schools in Michigan. The most common school-based illnesses? Cold/fluStomach fluLicePinkeyeStrep throatImpetigoMRSA But other illnesses cause significant problems too.

In early September 2015, Swartz Creek High School, in Swartz Creek, Michigan, closed. How do these illnesses impact schools? Missed classes translate to lost learning opportunities Chronic absenteeism predicts low achievement (and eventual dropout) An example: So what do we do about it? In the meantime, two additional fun facts: